Cloth packaging apparatus



Oct. 25, 1960 c. E. ANDERSON 2,957,288

CLOTH PACKAGING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1957 INVENTOR. C ur-lu' s Eflnderson United States Patent CLOTH PACKAGING APPARATUS Curtis E. Anderson, 1991 NW. Walmer Drive, Portland, Oreg.

Filed Nov. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 698,965

Claims. (Cl. 53-118) This invention relates to packaging apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for packaging pieces of cloth or similar material as cylindrical rolls. The apparatus is adapted to pick up a piece of cloth, which may be laid out in a fiat single layer or folded in flat multiple singly or as a group of rolls in suitable packages.

This invention has particular utility in connection with thepackaging of cleaning cloths, such as those used in industrial establishments for dusting floors or other surfaces. These cleaning cloths frequently are impregnated with an oily substance which has the effect of reducing the amount of dust which rises up and becomes entrained in the air when a cloth is moved over a surface. The cloths may also be impregnated with a cleaning solution. In eithercase, the cloths after being laundered and impregnated withliquid are slightly damp, and it is customaryto roll these cloths to prevent them from drying out. While this invention has particular utility with respect to this type of cleaning cloth, it may be used with dry cloths where it is designed to package the cloths in a relatively small amount of space.

In general terms, this invention contemplates packaging apparatus which includes a brake surface and a conveyor surface, mounted in a frame adjacent one another so as to define thereinbetween an elongated confined path. Cloths are fed into this path and the conveyor surface inoved past the brake surface. Relative movement between the two surfaces functions first to turn over the forward edge of the cloth traveling through the apparatus under the urging of the conveyor surface, and then to roll the cloth into a cylindrical roll. An object of this invention is to provide such apparatus having a pair of relatively movable brake and conveyor surfaces which 7 requires little supervision, is fast in operation, and performs in a highly practical and satisfactory manner.

An additional object and feature of the invention is the provision in such apparatus of mechanism for feeding flat cloths into the machine, and mechanism for collecting cylindrical rolls prepared by the machine. The rolls are retained in relatively tight cylindrical form prior to final bundling and their distribution.

In an embodiment of the invention, the collection mechanism takes the form of an elongated chute, with one end of the chute mounted adjacent the discharge end of the brake surface. The chute has turned over portions which function as clamp means maintaining the rolls which have been deposited in the chute as cylindrical rolls. An opening is included along the length of the chute to enable an operator to scoop out from the chute any predetermined number of rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apzparatus which includes a chute of the type described a 2,957,288 Patented Oct. 25, 1960 2 reciprocal packer mechanism operable to push each roll through the chute after it has first been deposited therein. The rolls are pushed partially through the chute, and as succeeding rolls collect in the chute, preceding rolls are urged further along through the chute. The packer mechanism functions to clear the discharge end of the brake surface.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the packer mechanism has two distinct stroke movements to facilitate the bundling of groups of rolls. This may be accomplished by providing a pair of independently operable ram mechanisms. One mechanism is constructed to move rolls only partially through the chute, and the other of the mechanisms is constructed to move the rolls a substantially greater distance. In this way the packer mechanism not only moves the rolls one at a time away from the discharge end of the brake surface, but also may be designed to move a preselected number of rolls into a bundling station for final bundling.

Towels or cleaning cloths may be rolled into cylindrical form by the apparatus of this invention speedily and efiiciently, and the rolls produced are of substantially uniform size. The apparatus is characterized by a relatively sturdy construction, having a relatively small number of moving parts. The latter features contribute to the useful and trouble-free life of the apparatus.

These and other objects, novel features and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of apparatus embodying this invention, illustrating a rotating conveyor surface employed in conjunction with a stationary brake surface present in the machine;

Fig. 2 is a section view along the line 22 in Fig. 1, illustrating the spacing of the conveyor belts of the conveyor transporting cloths into the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a section view along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, showing the configuration of a chute such as may be employed for collecting the cylindrical rolls prepared in the apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings for a more specific description of the invention-and embodiments thereof, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, 10 indicates generally a horizontally disposed transport conveyor which is used to transport towels or cleaning cloths into the roll-forming unit of the invention. The roll-forming unit is indicated at 11, and 12 designates the collection means or mechanism at the discharge end of the brake surface which is present in the roll-forming unit. The collection mechanism 12 collects rolls produced in the roll-forming unit and holds them until they are bundled for final delivery to the user.

With reference now to Figs. 1 and 2, transport conveyor 10 is comprised of a plurality of belts indicated at 16, 17, and 18. The belts are continuous, and are reeved at opposite ends about suitable pulleys, such as pulley 19 and a complementary pulley Spaced horizontally therefrom. The belts in unison provide a moving support for cloths, exemplified by cloth 21, which are moved from left to right in Fig. 1 into the infeed end of the roll-forming unit. The transport conveyor is driven, as by motor 22 mounted in frame 25 of the apparatus, and a drive chain 23. Drive chain 23 engages a sprocket afiixed to a pulley shaft 24 for pulley 19, whereby the output of motor 22 is converted to rotary movement of shaft 24 and pulley 19. The under side of the upper portions of belts 16, 17, 18 may be supported by a table 26.

Roll-forming unit 11' includes a rotating drum member 31 which is afiixed to a center shaft 32. Motor 22 and drive chain 23 also rotate drum member 31 by turning shaft 32 through a suitable sprocket secured to the shaft. During operation, movement of the drum is in the direction of the arrows in Fig. l.

Shroud plates 36 are aifixed to the frame of the apparatus to either side of drum member 31. The peripheral edges of the shroud platesextend radially outwardly a slight distance yond the per phe y of th core 34. of th drum. Thus the shroud plates and the periphery of drum o 3 efine a u ar channel ext nd ng about the drum member as can best be seen with reference to Fig. 2. 7

h core. the has rra sedin Para e ove its Width thi k be t .8 nd 32 e b s a pa d S t h e ts a e li ne w t lts .7. 1 of the transport conveyor. Belts 37, 38, and 39 are afiixed to the drum and rotate therewith. The belts constitute a continuous elong'ated conveyor surface in the apparatus and are movable in a continuous path defining a plane (a vertical plane as can be seen with reference to Fig. 1).

The roll-forming unit includes an elongated brake: surface mounted in the frame of the apparatus in spaced oppositely disposed'rela tion to a portion of the drum core. Specifically, a brake element 41, whose inner surface functions as the brake surface having a width somewhat less than the distance between the two shrouds '3 is mounted'in the frame of the apparatus with a lower or ihfe'ed end 42 spaced a slight distance from the periphery of thedrurn' core and adjacent'one end of the transport conveyor. The upper or discharge en'd'43 of brake element 41'is adjacent'upper portions of the 'drum core, but

spaced away'from the drum core a greater distance than lower end 42.v The brake. element together with the portions of the drum core disposed opposite the, brake elernentd'efine' an elongated confined path extending about a portion of the periphery of the drum corej Lower. end 42 which is closest the drum core together with the core of the drum comprise a constrictedthroat section. The innersurface'of the brake element and outer surfaces o'fbelts 37,38, 39 on'the core of the drum diverge away from each other starting with this throat section" along the length'ofjthe path extending between the core and'brake. This divergence accommodates the buildup of a roll between the two elements asthe roll progresses through the unit.

The brake element is mounted in the frame so as to be fixed against rotary movement. HoweverQthe mounting for the brake element enables the brake surface to' separate slightly from the belts on the core of the drum. Thus the brake surface may give to irregularities occurring in the rolls. In the embodiment illustrated, the brake element is mounted'at each of its ends by a rod 46 pivoted to the brake element which extends through a frame member 47. Rods 46 are slidably mounted for reciprocation in frame member 47. A compression spring 48 interposed between flanges of the frame member operates to urge the end of the brake element associated therewith inwardly against the core of the drum. Inward movement of the end of the brake element is limited as by an abutment 49 aflixed to rod 46, which after a certain degree of movement contacts one of the flanges of frame member 47. 7

As previously described, adjacent the discharge end 43 of the brake element in the machine is a collecting mechanism 12. This includes a chute S1 and a packer mechanism generally shown at 52. Rolls are transported away from the core of the drum into the chute by operation of the packer mechanism.

With reference to Fig. 3, chute 51 includes clamping means or flanges 53 which operate to hold onto the ends of the rolls and thereby to maintain them in tight cylindrical form. The space between the inner edges of the a and 57 mounted in the frame of the apparatus.

flanges, which extends the length of the chute, enables In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, packer mechanism 52 includes a pair of piston cylinder devices 56 Each of these piston-cylinders functions as part of an inde pendently operable ram mechanism. Both are employed for moving rolls along chute 51. The stroke of pistoncylinder 56 is relatively short, whereas the stroke of piston-cylinder 57 is much longer. .One is used for clearing the discharge end of brake element 41. The longer stroke piston-cylinder. is used to move a, predetermined number of rolls farther down the chute into a bundling station.

The end of the piston rod for piston-cylinder 56 is equipped with a mount 58 having a bifurcated lower end. The upper end of mount 58 is secured to the piston rod, and the lower bifurcated end fits over the piston rod for piston-cylinder 57. Swingably mounted on each extension of the bifurcated endis a pivotable finger 59. (The rear finger in Fig. 1 is obscured.) Movement of each of the fingers in a counterclockwise directionnfrom the position illustrated in Fig. 1 is limited by an abutment 61 secured to each extension of the bifurcated end. Each of the fingers may move forwardly from the position of Fig. 1 to accommodate the passage of a cloth roll thereunder. Expansion of piston-cylinder 56 operates to urge mount 58 and the fingers pivoted thereon from right to left in Fig. 1 thereby to move cloth rolls into chute 51.

Piston-cylinder 57 has affixcd to its end a mpunt 62 which pivotally carries at its lower end a finger 63. Finger 63, like fingers 59, is prevented from movement in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1 by an abutment 64. Extension ofpiston-cylinder 57 moves rolls along the chute to a bundling station located at the left-hand end of the chute in Fig.1.

A cloth piece is picked off of belts 16, 17, 18 and slid into the path defined by the drum core and brake element by peeling fingers 66. The fingers extend smoothly from the lower end 42 of the brake element with their outer ends sliding on revolving pulley 1 9 and in between belts 16, 17, and 18. The peeling fingerslie opposite a portion of the drum core which extends beyond lower end 42 0f the brake element. This portion of the drum core functions as a feed portion, as it acts to grab a cloth and move it into the space between the drum core and brake element.

A second set of peeling fingers 67 (see Fig. 1) extending from chute 51 and sliding on the drum core betweenbelts 16, 17, 18 peel oif rolled cloths from the drum and place them into position for. packing in the chute by the packer mechanism. A portion of the drum core which extends beyond the upper end 43 of the brake element functions as a discharge portion movin g rolled cloths along the peeling fingers 67. l W

Mount 58 pivotally carries: at its upper end a ratchet 68.' 'A hair spring (not illustrated) serves to urge the ratchet in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. lf'ag ainst a ratchet wheel 69. The ratchet'is'free to swing against the bias "of the hair spring beneath the ratchet wheel when piston-cylinder 56 moves the ratchet from right to left in Fig. 1. Ratchet wheel 69 has. five teeth, and the ratchet wheel undergoes a complete revolution after. five passes by the ratchet. A suitable control'mechanism (not illustrated) is actuated by the ratchet wheel each time it makes one complete revolution which regulates piston-cylinder 57. With the construction illustrated, five rolled cloths are first collected in the infeed end of the chute by'piston-cylinder 56. After fivej rolls are, collected, piston-cylinder 57 moves all'the rolls to the left end of the chute which constitutes thebundlingstation.

In the ordinary instance a bag, indicated by outline 71, is slipped over the left end of the chute, and whe'n five cloths are collected at.this end, 'the operator moves all five cloths from the chute into the bag. Obviously the number of cloth rolls movedautomatically as a group down, the chute maybe variedby. suitablechange in the control mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. 4 where another embodiment is illustrated, in this instance the conveyor surface takes the form of an elongated continuous belt 76. Belt 76 is reeved at each of its ends over a pulley 77. Superimposed over a portion of the belt is an elongated flexible friction surface, which may take the form of another belt indicated at 78. Belt 73 is secured at each end 79 and 81 in a fixed position. The weight of belt 78 causes the center of the belt to rest closer to belt 76 than the ends 79 and 81. Table 82 supports belt 76 as it is rotated on pulleys 77.

As in the case of the first embodiment discussed, conveyor surface 76 has portions which extend beyond the ends of belt 78, serving as feed and discharge portions for the roll unit. In operation a cloth which is carried from left to right in Fig. 4 on belt 76 has its forward edge turned under when the edge first contacts stationary belt 78, and then is rolled into a cylinder by continued movement of belt 76.

Adjacent belt 76 at the discharge end of the brake surface is a piston-cylinder 86. The piston rod for the device has a cupped end 87 aflixed thereto. Rolls ejected from the roll-forming unit are deposited in cupped end 87 and moved upwardly into a chute 88 by expansion of piston-cylinder 86. The stroke of the pistoncylinder is such that the roll is moved beyond a locking wheel mechanism 85 prior to contraction of the pistoncylinder.

Locking wheel mechanism 85 includes a wheel 91 to tatable at each end in a link 92. A spring 93 interposed between each of the links and the frame urges the wheel into the position shown in Fig. 4, that is, with links 92 flush with the wall of chute 88. The springs accommodate movement of the roll in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. Thus the locking wheel moves out of the interior of the chute when a cloth roll is advanced upwardly thereby and then returns to hold the roll in an elevated position. In this embodiment of the invention, a cloth roll is advanced up through the chute and then downwardly to the open end of the chute by the pressure of succeeding rolls packed against it by piston-cylinder 86.

The operation of the device illustrated in Fig. 4 is somewhat similar to the operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In both a piece of cloth is carried between the brake and co-operating conveyor surfaces. Relative movement between the two surfaces causes the forward edge of the cloth first to be turned under. Continued movement of the conveyor surface serves to roll up the cloth and transport it toward the outfeed end of the brake surface. The rolled cloths are then collected in the collection mechanisms described.

It will be apparent from the above that the constructions of this invention are extremely simple and require few moving parts. The mechanisms are speedy in operation, and handle cloths to roll them up substantially as fast as cloths may he slid on the conveyors which transport the cloths into the rolling unit proper. The rolls produced are substantially uniform in size.

While there have been described a few embodiments of this invention, it is appreciated that modifications and variations may be made in the various parts and the arrangements thereof. It is intended not to be limited by the specific constructions illustrated, but to cover all modifications and variations which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In apparatus for packaging flexible sheets as elongated cylindrical rolls, means for rolling the sheets into roll form including an elongated continuous conveyor for transporting such sheets movable in a continuous path defining a plane and an elongated brake surface mounted in oppositely disposed relation over a portion of said conveyor, said brake surface having a discharge end portion where formed rolls leave the brake surface while traveling forwardly on the conveyor spaced sufiiciently close to the conveyor to produce tightly wound rolls, said conveyor having a substantially horizontally disposed feed portion extending forwardly of said discharge end portion operable to transfer rolls to a position clear of the brake surface where the rolls are supported on the conveyor freely of the brake surface, collecting means for collecting rolls positioned to receive rolls transported by said feed portion of said conveyor and comprising an elongated hollow casing with open feed and discharge ends disposed substantially in the planedefined by the conveyor path, said casing being constructed to hold rolls in a row of side-by-side rolls and having opposite side walls for engaging the sides of rolls and operable to maintain them in roll form, the feed end of said casing being of a size suflicient to accommodate the insertion of rolls in the shape they have while supported on the feed portion of said conveyor, and power-actuated packing means for shifting rolls from said feed portion into said collecting means, said packing means including a reciprocating pusher mounted for movement in a path disposed substantially in the plane of the conveyor path and adjacent said feed portion and that extends toward the feed end of the casing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said casing is con structed to accommodate the insertion of a bag over its discharge end, and has an elongated aperture extending longitudinally along one of its walls a substantial portion of the length of the casing and accommodating manual withdrawal of rolls from the easing into a bag placed over its discharge end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power-actuated packing means comprises an expansible ram having a rod and cylinder mounted with the rod adjacent said feed portion of the conveyor and over rolls transferred by said feed portion, said rod being movable toward and away 10m said feed end of the casing, and wherein said pusher is mounted on said rod by means accommodating swinging of the pusher above a roll as such roll is moved thereunder by said feed portion of the conveyor.

4. In apparatus for packaging flexible sheets as elongated rolls; means for rolling the sheets into roll form including an elongated continuous conveyor having plural belts disposed side-by-side for transporting such sheets and moving in a continuous path defining a plane, and an elongated brake surface mounted in oppositely disposed relation over a portion of said conveyor; said brake surface having a discharge end portion where formed rolls leave the brake surface while traveling forwardly on the conveyor spaced sufiiciently close to the conveyor to produce tightly wound rolls; said conveyor having a substantially horizontal feed portion extending forwardly of said discharge end portion operable to transfer rolls clear of the brake surface where the rolls are supported on the conveyor freely of the brake surface; collecting means for collecting rolls and positioned to receive rolls transported by said feed portion of said conveyor; said collecting means comprising an elongated substantially horizontally casing with open feed and discharge ends disposed substantially in the plane defined by the conveyor path and forming substantially a continuation of said feed portion, said casing being constructed to hold rolls in a row of side-by-side rolls and having top and bottom side walls for engaging the sides of rolls and up erable to maintain them in roll form, and finger means at the feed end of the casing extending from the bottom wall of the casing to a position between said belts at the feed portion of the conveyor thus to define a smooth path for rolls from said feed portion to the casing; the feed end of the casing being of a size suflicient to accommodate the insertion of rolls in the shape they have while supported on the feed portion of the conveyor; and poweractuated packing means for shifting rolls from said feed portion into said collecting means; said packing means in- References Cited in the 116 of this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,113,932; Compton Oct. 13, 1914 8 Lauterbur Ian, 18, Stern Apr; 15, Glornstead et a1. Dec. 4, Meyer Oct. 8, Covey Jan. 15, Martin' May 24, Ladd Ian. 9, Trevellyan .i. Oct. 13, Perkins Aug. 20, Arndt Aug. 26, Bonebrake May 13,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Dec. 18, 

